Closure cap for drink can

ABSTRACT

A closure cap for a cylindrical drink can comprises a top surface provided with a tear-off or collapsible opening lid surrounded by a top ring with circular cross-section projecting outside the can, a base comprising a bottom ring with circular cross-section for stacking similar cans, the bottom ring enclosing a surface curved inwards relative to the can. The cap comprises a peripheral skirt capable of being clipped on the can top ring external periphery, and a central surface bordered with a shoulder linked to the peripheral skirt top edge, the shoulder being arranged to cooperate with the inner and/or outer edge of another can bottom ring. The invention is applicable to drink cans.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is the 35 USC 371 national stage of International applicationPCT/FR98/01046 filed on May 26, 1998, which designated the United Statesof America.

The present invention relates to a closure cap for a metalliccylindrical can for beverages, said can comprising an upper surfaceprovided with an opening lid that can be torn off or pushed in andsurrounded by an upper ring of circular cross-section projecting outsidethe can, a bottom comprising a lower ring of circular section permittingnesting identical cans, said lower ring surrounding an inwardly convexsurface of the can. The cans can have upper and lower rings of the samediameter or different diameters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The metallic cans for beverages, of steel or aluminum, have undergoneimportant development because of the qualities they possess for thepreservation and commercialization of the beverages they contain.

They have however certain drawbacks or faults which should be overcome.

The principal drawback of these cans is connected to the manner ofopening them, namely the use of a detachable lid, or more recently, onethat can be pushed in. This lid, which cannot be returned to itsoriginal position, does not permit consuming only a portion of thecontents, then transporting the can partly empty at the risk of spillingthe remaining contents. This is particularly disadvantageous in thecourse of a sport or recreational event, such as skiing, hiking,boating, etc. or during transport in a vehicle (automobile, motorcycle,motorbike, train, plane, etc.), such that the consumer is obliged toconsume all at once all the contents of the can or to throw away thepartially empty can, with in this latter case pollution of theenvironment by the contents.

Another drawback of metallic cans in that, although they are filledunder very strict hygienic conditions, they are then subjected toatmospheric pollution in the course of their storage and transportation,such that the consumption of their contents is far from satisfactory asto the most elementary conditions of hygiene.

There was proposed in DE-U-7 723 959, a cover adapted to re-close a canwith an opening that can be torn off, after partial consumption of thecontents of this can. This cover has either a totally flat surface or atotally curved surface. Such a cover therefore permits re-closing thecan when the latter is partially empty, but it is not possible to stackthe cans for storage.

Moreover, this type of cover is proposed in the form in which it isconnected to other covers by a tearing tongue. The presence of such atearing tongue between at least two covers give rise to the risk ofdestruction of the cover upon their separation by tearing off and is nota very easy manipulation. A seller would have the tendency to separatethe can from the cover when selling it, as often as selling it with thecover.

There is known from FR-A-1 365 481, covers for a receptacle, such as ajar of cream, of the type comprising a skirt extending to the peripheryof a flat surface and permitting stacking said receptacles, the flatsurface of the cover having on its upper surface a rib in relief whichpermits ensuring the centering of another receptacle disposed on saidreceptacle provided with the cover. However, such a cover does notpermit a real stacking of the receptacles against particularly lateraldisplacement of the receptacles stacked on each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the cap according to the invention is characterized in thatit comprises a peripheral skirt adapted to clip on the externalperiphery of the upper ring of a can, as well as a central surfacebordered by a shoulder connected to the upper edge of said peripheralskirt, said shoulder being arranged to coact with the internal and/orexternal edge of the lower ring of another can.

Thus, preferably, with a cap according to the invention, said other canis laterally locked in a pile of stacked cans.

The cap according to the invention therefore permits closing the can inthe course of use, without interfering with stacking by piling the cansin a package or in a refrigerator or a refrigerated case, whilstensuring the protection of the regions of the can adapted to come intocontact with the mouth of the consumer.

The protection of the can against pollution can also be improved byapplying a plastic film which can be adhesive or maintained undervacuum. Such a film can be transparent, or opaque, provided with anadvertising message or a decoration.

Preferably, the central surface extends at least into the plane definedby the upper edge of said shoulder or is located above said plane. Thestacking of the cans is thus improved.

Preferably, the upper edge of the shoulder is inscribed at least in theplane defined by the upper edge of the peripheral skirt, which is theedge of the skirt opposed to its free edge, or is located above saidplane.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the centralsurface can be a curved surface, hence above the upper edge of theshoulder, but it can also be inverted when desired, for example, tolimit the size.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the connection betweenthe shoulder bordering the central surface and the upper edge of theperipheral skirt, opposite the free edge of said skirt, comprises asmall flat annular collar on opposite sides of which extend theperipheral skirt and the shoulder bordering the central surface.

Thus, this embodiment permits preferably providing an annular surface onwhich comes to rest the lower ring of another can whilst the shouldercomes into contact against the internal edge of said lower ring of saidother can.

The central surface bordered by the shoulder can be curved and thuslocated above the plane defined by the upper edge of the shoulder. Thiscurved surface can be used to nest below the lower curved surface ofanother can, which promotes lateral locking of the stacked cans and thelast can of the stack can have a cap whose central surface is reversedto limit the size of said can as to its height.

According to a modification, the central surface is curved and extendsabove the plane defined by the upper edge of the shoulder, this curvedsurface being thus reversed such that the shoulder forms a crown whichcan be disposed against the external peripheral edge of the lower crownof another can.

Preferably, the cap according to the invention thus comprises aprotection constituted by the central surface bordered by the shoulder,said projection being arranged to be received within the lower crown ofanother can or to surround said lower crown.

According to a second embodiment, the connection between the shoulderbordering the central surface and the upper edge of the peripheral skirtcomprises a shoulder which is concentric and opposed to the shoulderbordering the central surface, said shoulders defining a groove adjacentthe peripheral skirt.

The capsule according to this embodiment is thus provided with a groovein which can nest the lower crown of another can. And, even if thisgroove is less steep, the two opposed shoulders will lock the lowercrown of said other can such that said other can is prevented frommoving laterally relative to the can with which it is nested.

Preferably, the central surface is flat and inscribed in the planedefined by the upper edge of the shoulder bordering said central surfacesuch that there is obtained a nesting by reliable interfitting with thehelp of a cap having a limited height.

According to a modification of this embodiment, the central surface, theshoulder bordering said central surface and the shoulder which isopposite and concentric, defining between them the groove adjacent theperipheral skirt, are constituted, at the time of nesting the cans, bythe deformation of the bottom of the cap, under the effect of pressureexerted upon engagement of the lower ring of a can within the upper ringof the can carrying the cap.

Thus, the cap comprises a peripheral skirt adapted to clip over theexternal periphery of the upper ring and delimiting a surface,preferably flat, forming the bottom of the cap covering the uppersurface of the can, the bottom being constituted by a deformablematerial such that, in the course of stacking, the lower ring of anothercan of a diameter less than the diameter of the upper ring of the cancomprising the cap, comes to engage concentrically within the upper ringof the can comprising the cap, said lower ring deforming, under theexerted pressure, the bottom of the cap which forms a central surfacewhich is disposed within the lower ring, bordered by the shoulder, and agroove adjacent to the peripheral skirt.

Preferably, the capsule thus comprises also an internal peripheral skirtconcentric to the peripheral skirt of said cap and which extends alongthe internal periphery of the upper ring of the can. There is thusobtained better positioning of the cap on said can.

In this way, there is used the play which exists in certain cans,between the external diameter of the lower ring and the internaldiameter of the upper ring, to form the shoulder and the central surfaceof the cap.

Another drawback of the closure is its unsightly appearance. To overcomethis drawback, the cap can be opaque.

Another advantage of the cap according to the invention is that it canserve as a decorative or informative or promotional and/or advertisingsupport. To this end, it can be provided that the cap is externally orinternally coated with a decoration which can be printed, transferred orglued on said external surface. Moreover, it is also possible to hidethe closure system even if the cap is transparent or translucent.

Furthermore, the cap can serve to retain an advertising and/orpromotional message, such as printing, a sample, an object, etc. withinthe upper ring.

To facilitate emplacement and removal of the cap according to theinvention, it can be provided that, in a manner known per se, itcomprises at least one peripheral external projection and/or at leastone radial tongue.

The capsule can also be connected to the can, for example by hinging ona ring fixed to the can, preferably of a single piece with the cap.

So as to promote reliable clipping of the peripheral skirt of the cap onsaid upper ring, said peripheral skirt can have, projecting inwardly, acontinuous or interrupted return such that, during emplacement of thecap on the can, said return can be disposed below the edge of the upperring, thereby ensuring snapping on of the peripheral skirt.

According to one embodiment, the return is constituted by the truncatedshape of the peripheral skirt, the large base of the truncated conecorresponding to the diameter of the cap and the small base of thetruncated cone corresponding to the free end of the peripheral skirtbeing itself disposed below the edge of the upper ring of the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the followingdescription of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in vertical cross-section of a cap accordingto a first embodiment, mounted on a metallic can,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 3 is a view analogous to FIG. 1, for a modification of the secondembodiment, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a modified embodiment of thecap according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The cans 1 on which are adapted to be mounted the caps 2 according tothe invention, are metal cans with peripheral cylindrical walls 3 whoseupper surface comprises a central flat circular surface 4 in theillustrated embodiment, provided with a lid 5 that can be torn off orpushed in. The central surface 4 is surrounded by an upper ring 6 ofcircular shape. The bottom of the can 1 comprises a central surface 7which is inwardly convex, on the can, and surrounded by a lower ring 8whose diameter, in the illustrated embodiment, is slightly less thanthat of the upper ring 6, so as to permit nesting of the cans in eachother with lateral retention.

The cap 2 according to the invention is constituted by a piece ofinjected or thermoformed plastic material comprising a peripheral skirt9 surrounding a body 10 or bottom of the cap.

The skirt 9 is slightly truncated conical to form a return permittingcontinuous or interrupted clipping on the edge of the upper ring 6 ofthe can 1 and can be prolonged by a radial small collar 11 facilitatingsnapping off the cap.

There can also be provided one or several small tongues 12 to assist insnapping and unsnapping the cap.

The body 10 or bottom of the cap 2 comprises a central surface 100bordered by a shoulder 101 connected to the peripheral skirt 9. Thisshoulder 101 is concentric to the peripheral skirt and slightlytruncated conical.

The connection between said shoulder 101 and the upper edge of theperipheral skirt 9 is constituted by a small flat annular collar 102 onopposite sides of which extend the peripheral skirt 9 and the shoulder101, substantially perpendicular to said small collar 102.

During emplacement of another can 1′ on the can 1, the lower ring 8′ ofsaid can 1′ comes to rest on said small collar 102 whilst the shoulder101 remains against the inner edge of said ring 8′.

The central surface 100, which, in the example, is curved (shown indotted lines) and located above the plane P defined by the upper edge ofthe shoulder 101, is lodged below the central curved surface 7′ of theother can 1′.

There is thus ensured a lateral locking of the cans 1, 1′ stacked oneach other.

Because of the plastic nature of the material constituting the cap 2,the central curved surface 100 can be inverted to occupy the retractedposition shown in full line so as to limit the size of the cap 2 as toheight, for example for the last can in the stack.

If the surface 100 is flat, it constitutes with the shoulder 101 acentral projection adapted to be disposed in the central curved surface7′ of the can 1′.

According to a modification of this embodiment, the central curvedsurface 100 is inverted and the shoulder 101 thus forms a ring 13 on thecapsule 2 which can lodge within the lower ring 8′ of an identical can1′.

The ring 13 thus formed can also have a diameter substantially equal tothat of the upper ring of the can so as to surround the lower ring 8′ ofthe can 1′.

In the case in which the lower ring 8 and upper ring 6 of the cans arethe same diameter or when the lower ring 8 is larger than the upper ring6, the ring 13 of the cap will of course have a diameter greater thanthat of the lower ring. As a function of the diameter of the lower ring8, the ring 13 of the cap 2 will have a suitable diameter to surroundthe latter or to be disposed in it.

In the curved position, shown in dotted lines, of the central surface100, a body or an object can be maintained by said central curvedsurface 100. The positioning of this curved surface 100 (shown in dottedlines) permits disposing a relatively large object therein whilstimproving the lateral grip of the cans 1, 1′ when they are stacked.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cap 2 comprises a peripheralskirt 9 and a cap body or bottom 30. The body 30 of cap 2 has a centralsurface 300 bordered by a shoulder 301 connected to the peripheralskirt.

The connection of said shoulder 301 with the upper edge of theperipheral skirt 9 comprises a concentric shoulder 302 opposite theshoulder 301 and defining with the latter a groove 303 adjacent theperipheral skirt 9. This groove 303 is suitable to receive the lowerring 8′ of another can 1′.

The shoulders 301 and 302 are defined by substantially truncated conicalwalls concentric to the peripheral skirt 9.

Preferably, the central surface 300 is inscribed in the plane P definedby the upper edge of the shoulder 301 and, preferably, said upper edgeof the shoulder 301 is inscribed at least within the plane P′ defined bythe upper edge of the peripheral skirt 9 or above said plane P′. Theplanes P and P′ are in this case coincident.

The peripheral skirt 9 comprises on its lower edge, a return constitutedby an inwardly extending roll 18 such that, during emplacement of thecap on the can 1, said roll 18 comes to rest below the edge of the upperring 6.

An advertising and/or promotional support, such as printing 15 or asample or an object, can be enclosed within the upper ring 6 of the can1 and retained by the cap 2.

When a printing 15 is emplaced, it is advantageous to provide that thecap 2 comprise a peripheral retaining lip 19 for printed material 15 inthe form of a disc, for example, arranged to permit freeing said printedmaterial 15 by pressure on the upper surface of the cap 2.

In FIG. 2, this peripheral retaining lip 19 is provided at the level ofthe inner surface of the shoulder 301 and permits retaining theadvertising disc 15.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the second embodiment of a cap 2according to the invention, in which the shoulders defining the centralsurface and the groove adjacent to the peripheral skirt are obtained bystacking by nesting the cans.

Thus, the cap 2 comprises a peripheral skirt 9 surrounding a body orbottom of the cap which is constituted here by a flat surface 20 (shownin full line).

The central surface 200, the shoulder 201 bordering said central surface200 and the second shoulder 202 defining with the shoulder 201 thegroove 203 adjacent the peripheral skirt 9, are finally defined in thecourse of stacking by nesting the cans, at least the materialconstituting the bottom of the cap 2 being deformable.

This embodiment is usable in the case of a can 1 in which the lower ring8 is of an external diameter less than the internal diameter of theupper ring 6 so as to permit the stacking of the cans. In this way, whenone can 1′ is stacked on a can 1 provided with the cap 2 having a flatdeformable surface 20, the pressure exerted in the course of stackingdeforms said flat surface 20 which is pressed along the internal wall ofthe upper ring 6 of the can 1 and which thus forms the central surface200 bordered by a shoulder 201 and defining with the second shoulder 202a groove 203 adjacent the peripheral skirt 9.

Preferably, the cap 2 moreover comprises an internal skirt 16 concentricto the peripheral skirt 9 and adapted to extend along the internal wallof the upper ring 6 during emplacement of the cap 2 on the can 1, saidskirts 9 and 16 not undergoing deformation in the course of stacking. Inparticular, the skirts can be made of the same material as the flatsurface 20 but thicker or else of another non-deformable material.

The cap 2 can comprise a straight peripheral skirt 9 having projectinginwardly a return 17, continuous or interrupted, adapted to be disposedbelow the edge of the upper ring 6. The clipping of the cap 2 is thusperfectly guaranteed.

As is indicated above, the cap 2 according to the invention permitsre-closing the can 1, after opening the lid 5, and consuming a portionof the contents of the can, without interfering with stacking of saidcans 1, 1′, etc. at the outset.

The cap 2 can be opaque, in which case it improves the appearance of thecan 1 by masking the lid 5.

The opaque, transparent or translucent cap 2 can be external orinternally coated with a decoration which can for example be printed,transferred or glued on, so as to overcome the difficulty of applyingsuch a decoration directly on the central surface 4, provided with thelid 5, of the upper surface of the can 1. Such a decoration can be forpromotion, publicity, information and/or simply decoration.

Usually, the cap according to the invention, when it is in place on anopen can, ensures sufficient sealing, because of the clipping of theskirt over the upper ring of the can, to avoid loss of liquid.

In the case in which the contained liquid is a carbonated beverage,however, the gas which escapes has the tendency to raise the cap whenleaving.

To overcome this drawback, it can be provided that the cap 2 has atleast one radial gas escape passage 29, preferably formed by a groovefacing the front surface of the upper ring of the can 6.

In FIGS. 4a and 4 b is shown a modified embodiment of a cap 2 accordingto the invention. The cap 2 is here connected to the can 1, preferablyhinged by a tongue 26 on a ring 25 fixed to said can 1. This ring 25 ispreferably made of a single piece with the cap 2. Preferably, theinternal diameter of the ring 25 corresponds to the diameter of the can1 below the upper ring 6 and it is emplaced below said upper ring 6.

Once the ring 25 is in place, the cap 2 is folded down over the upperportion of the can and the peripheral skirt 9 of said cap 2 clips overthe external periphery of the upper ring of the can 1. There is thusobtained a cap 2 which can always permit stacking of the can and whichforms a cover for said can when it is open whilst offering betterhygiene. Because the cap 2 is attached to the can by the ring 25, thereis no risk of it being lost or dirtied.

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure cap for a cylindrical metal can forbeverages, said can comprising an upper surface provided with an openinglid that can be torn off or pushed in and surrounded by an upper ringwith a circular cross-section projecting outwardly of the can, a bottomcomprising a lower ring of circular cross-section permitting stacking ofidentical cans, said lower ring surrounding an inwardly curved surfaceof the can; the cap comprising a peripheral skirt adapted to clip overthe external periphery of the upper ring of a can; a central surfacebordered by a shoulder connected to the upper edge of said peripheralskirt; and a peripheral lip for retaining an advertising support; saidperipheral lip being structured and arranged to permit freeing saidsupport by pressure on an upper surface of the cap; and said shoulderbeing arranged to coact with at least one of an internal edge and anexternal edge of the lower ring of another can.
 2. The cap according toclaim 1, wherein the central surface extends at least in a plane definedby an upper edge of said shoulder or is located above said plane.
 3. Thecap according to claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the shoulder isinscribed at least in a plane defined by the upper edge of theperipheral skirt or is located above said plane.
 4. The cap according toclaim 1, wherein the connection between the shoulder bordering thecentral surface and the upper edge of the peripheral skirt comprises asmall flat annular collar on opposite sides of which extend saidshoulder and said peripheral skirt.
 5. The cap according to claim 1,wherein the connection between the shoulder bordering the centralsurface and the upper edge of the peripheral skirt comprises a secondshoulder concentric with and opposed to said shoulder bordering thecentral surface; said shoulders defining a groove adjacent theperipheral skirt.
 6. The cap according to claim 5, wherein the centralsurface, the shoulder bordering said central surface, and the oppositeand concentric second shoulder defining between them the groove adjacentto the peripheral skirt are constituted, at the time of stacking thecans by the deformation of the bottom of the cap, constituted of adeformable material, under the influence of pressure exerted duringengagement of the upper ring of one can with the upper ring of the canbearing the cap.
 7. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the centralsurface is an invertible curved surface.
 8. The cap according to claim1, further comprising at least one of a peripheral external projectionand at least one radial tongue.
 9. The cap according to claim 1, whereinsaid cap is connected to a can by articulation on a ring fixed to thecan.
 10. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral skirt hasprojecting inwardly, a continuous or interrupted return adapted to bedisposed below an edge of the upper ring during emplacement of the capon a can.
 11. The cap according to claim 10, wherein the returncomprises a truncated conical shape of the peripheral skirt, the largebase of the truncated cone corresponding to the diameter of the cap andthe small base of the truncated cone corresponding to the free end ofthe peripheral skirt.
 12. The cap according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one radial passage for the escape of gas.
 13. Thecap according to claim 12, wherein said passage is formed by a groovefacing the front surface of the upper ring of the can.
 14. The capaccording to claim 1, wherein the cap is opaque.
 15. The cap accordingto claim 1, wherein the cap is transparent or translucent.
 16. The capaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the external and internalsurfaces of the cap is coated with a decoration adapted to be printed,transferred or glued onto said surface.
 17. The cap according to claim1, wherein the cap is comprised of a piece of injected or thermoformedplastic material.
 18. Method of holding an advertising support onto acan, which comprises: providing a can having an upper surface providedwith an opening lid that can be torn off or pushed in and surrounded byan upper ring with a circular cross-section projecting outwardly of thecan, a bottom comprising a lower ring of circular cross-sectionpermitting stacking of identical cans; said lower ring surrounding aninwardly curved surface of the can; providing a cap having a peripheralskirt adapted to clip over the external periphery of the upper ring of acan; a central surface bordered by a shoulder connected to the upperedge of said peripheral skirt; and a peripheral lip for retaining anadvertising support; said peripheral lip being structured and arrangedto permit freeing said support by pressure on an upper surface of thecap; said shoulder being arranged to coact with at least one of aninternal edge and an external edge of the lowering of another can;placing the advertising support onto the upper surface of the lid withinthe upper ring of the can; and retaining said advertising support withinsaid upper ring by clipping said cap over the external periphery of theupper ring of the can.